Abstract: A method for public key infrastructure for serviceable electronic components is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of electronic components in electronic communication with each other and establishing that each of the plurality of electronic components is a trusted device according to a certificate history including a plurality of signed public keys stored upon the respective electronic component. The method further includes utilizing Diffie-Hellman key exchange to distribute symmetric message authentication codes to each of the plurality of electronic components and communicating between the plurality of electronic components with the symmetric message authentication codes to achieve tangible functions that may be provided by the plurality of electronic components.

Abstract: A method for attestation of electronic components includes operating a system including the components. The components are configured for electronic communication with each other. A first electronic component provides plug-in hardware and/or configurable software. The method includes utilizing a second electronic component to perform attestation upon the first component using asymmetric key cryptography to verify authenticity. When using the asymmetric key cryptography successfully verifies the authenticity, the method includes selectively enabling one of power or data to the first component and communicating between the first component and the plurality of components to achieve tangible functions. When the cryptography fails to successfully verify the authenticity, the method includes selectively withholding one of power or data connection the first component.

Abstract: An example method to obtain process data associated with a process control system received from a field device includes identifying, at a computing device, associated data and a payload included in the data packet, the associated data including a source bit, determining, at the computing device, a type of connection between the field device and the computing device based on the source bit, determining, at the computing device, an encryption key identifier and an initialization vector based on an auxiliary data packet received prior to the data packet, generating, at the computing device, a nonce value based on the source bit and the initialization vector, the nonce value indicative of an input to a data encryption algorithm used by the field device to encrypt the payload, and extracting, at the computing device, the process data associated with the process control system from the payload.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size, remove first data from the second data packet, increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload, add second data to the second payload, and transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to establish secure low energy wireless communications in a process control system are disclosed. An example field device includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) interface to receive a first initialization message from a remote device over an unpaired BLE connection. The first initialization message includes a plaintext message containing authentication content. The authentication content is generated based on a private authentication token available to the remote device using middleware. The field device also includes a BLE message analyzer to validate the plaintext message based on the authentication content using the authentication token stored by the field device.

Abstract: An example method to obtain process data associated with a process control system received from a field device includes identifying, at a computing device, associated data and a payload included in the data packet, the associated data including a source bit, determining, at the computing device, a type of connection between the field device and the computing device based on the source bit, determining, at the computing device, an encryption key identifier and an initialization vector based on an auxiliary data packet received prior to the data packet, generating, at the computing device, a nonce value based on the source bit and the initialization vector, the nonce value indicative of an input to a data encryption algorithm used by the field device to encrypt the payload, and extracting, at the computing device, the process data associated with the process control system from the payload.

Abstract: Brackets for amplifying antenna gain associated with mountable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a bracket and an RFID tag. The bracket has a base, a first meandering amplification arm connected to and extending away from the base in a first direction, and a second meandering amplification arm connected to and extending away from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction. The RFID tag is mounted to the base of the bracket. The first meandering amplification arm and the second meandering amplification arm are respectively structured to at least one of: amplify an antenna gain associated with the RFID tag; or increase a communication range associated with the RFID tag.

Abstract: An example method includes, in response to receiving a byte array including process data, determining whether auxiliary data is to be transmitted from a field device based on a counter, the auxiliary data including an encryption key identifier and an initialization vector, when auxiliary data is to be transmitted, transmitting a first data packet including the auxiliary data to the remote device, and determining a value for a source bit based on a type of connection between the field device and the remote device, the source bit and the counter included in associated data. The method further includes generating a nonce value based on the source bit and the initialization vector, encrypting a payload including the byte array based on the encryption key identifier and the nonce value, and transmitting a second data packet to the remote device, the second data packet including the associated data and the encrypted payload.

Abstract: Brackets for amplifying antenna gain associated with mountable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a bracket and an RFID tag. The bracket has a base, a first meandering amplification arm connected to and extending away from the base in a first direction, and a second meandering amplification arm connected to and extending away from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction. The RFID tag is mounted to the base of the bracket. The first meandering amplification arm and the second meandering amplification arm are respectively structured to at least one of: amplify an antenna gain associated with the RFID tag; or increase a communication range associated with the RFID tag.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to control communication data rates of low-energy devices. An example apparatus includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, and a power manager to determine whether to divide a first computation task into at least a second and a third computation task based on (1) energy stored in a power supply associated with the BLE radio and (2) a charging rate of the power supply, and when the first computation task is to be executed by the BLE radio and the first computation task is divided based on the determination, instruct the BLE radio to enter a sleep mode after the second computation task is executed, and invoke the BLE radio to transition from the sleep mode to an operating mode to execute the third computation task, the invoking in response to a measurement associated with the power supply satisfying an energy threshold.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size, remove first data from the second data packet, increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload, add second data to the second payload, and transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a field device including a network bridge, the network bridge to convert first data received at a first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio of the network bridge, over a BLE network, from a second BLE radio of a remote device, and formatted according to a BLE communication protocol, into second data formatted according to an industrial communication protocol.

Abstract: An example method includes, in response to receiving a byte array including process data, determining whether auxiliary data is to be transmitted from a field device based on a counter, the auxiliary data including an encryption key identifier and an initialization vector, when auxiliary data is to be transmitted, transmitting a first data packet including the auxiliary data to the remote device, and determining a value for a source bit based on a type of connection between the field device and the remote device, the source bit and the counter included in associated data. The method further includes generating a nonce value based on the source bit and the initialization vector, encrypting a payload including the byte array based on the encryption key identifier and the nonce value, and transmitting a second data packet to the remote device, the second data packet including the associated data and the encrypted payload.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to establish secure low energy wireless communications in a process control system are disclosed. An example field device includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) interface to receive a first initialization message from a remote device over an unpaired BLE connection. The first initialization message includes a plaintext message containing authentication content. The authentication content is generated based on a private authentication token available to the remote device using middleware. The field device also includes a BLE message analyzer to validate the plaintext message based on the authentication content using the authentication token stored by the field device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to control communication data rates of low-energy devices. An example apparatus includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, and a power manager to determine whether to divide a first computation task into at least a second and a third computation task based on (1) energy stored in a power supply associated with the BLE radio and (2) a charging rate of the power supply, and when the first computation task is to be executed by the BLE radio and the first computation task is divided based on the determination, instruct the BLE radio to enter a sleep mode after the second computation task is executed, and invoke the BLE radio to transition from the sleep mode to an operating mode to execute the third computation task, the invoking in response to a measurement associated with the power supply satisfying an energy threshold.

Abstract: Mounting bracket apparatus to amplify electromagnetic field strengths associated with mountable RFID tags are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a mounting bracket having a central portion, a first field amplification arm extending from the central portion in a first direction, a second field amplification arm extending from the central portion in a second direction different from the first direction, and a mounting arm extending from the central portion in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction. The example apparatus further includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag mounted to the central portion of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a field device including a network bridge, the network bridge to convert first data received at a first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio of the network bridge, over a BLE network, from a second BLE radio of a remote device, and formatted according to a BLE communication protocol, into second data formatted according to an industrial communication protocol.

Abstract: Mounting bracket apparatus to amplify electromagnetic field strengths associated with mountable RFID tags are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a mounting bracket having a central portion, a first field amplification arm extending from the central portion in a first direction, a second field amplification arm extending from the central portion in a second direction different from the first direction, and a mounting arm extending from the central portion in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction. The example apparatus further includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag mounted to the central portion of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A base station for gathering data from localized sensors is described. An example apparatus includes a sensor to be operatively coupled to field equipment, the sensor having a radio frequency transmitter to send a signal to a base station, the base station having a radio frequency interface to receive the signal from the sensor and a first controller to collect data from the signal and store the data in a memory. The apparatus further includes a second controller operatively coupled to the first controller to relay the data to an asset management system and a local control panel operatively coupled to the base station to send additional data to the base station, wherein the first controller stores the additional data in the memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to partial stroke test valves using pressure control are disclosed. An example method includes generating a first pressure set point for a valve positioner coupled to an actuator to actuate a valve. The first pressure set point is associated with a partial stroke test of the valve. The example method also includes controlling an output pressure of the positioner towards the first pressure set point to actuate the valve in a stroke direction. The example method further includes determining whether the valve is stuck based on the output pressure.